"Put the weapon down, Tyrone!" Ed yelled.
Myself, Ed and Spike had our suspect cornered in a downtown alleyway.
Over the radio, Greg warned, "Be safe fellas. Remember the last time we cornered him?"
Remembering, the last time, I felt the long sleeved uniform rubbing up against the chemical burns on my arms.
I was lying down on the couch, resting my eyes before work, when the PDA went off.
I lifted it from the floor and opened up the information and reconnaissance file- otherwise known as the reccy file.
After opening it, I smiled, as I finished reading my part of tonight's job. After reading it, I got up and went upstairs and went into Jules' room.
Jules was on her bed. It was evident she was reading large book, as she had put it off to the side when the reccy file was posted into her PDA. She was reading the screen of the PDA with intent.
"It's almost like they know." Jules said with a smile, as I quickly looked behind me, to make sure Megan was no where in sight, as I stooped down and kissed her.
After getting ready for work, using the vital information from the reccy file, I jumped into my car and went to the station.
Immediately heading into the lobby, I saw Spike manoeuvring around his aptly named bomb-disposal robot; Babycakes.
"Baby came out to play?" I asked, as I walked past the locker room door and into the debriefing room.
Inside Ed was sitting down. "How are you today, Perra?"
"Outstanding sir." I replied, as I plunked my butt into one of the chairs. "Looks like it'll be an interesting night."
"Hopefully not too interesting," Greg said, as he came in, followed by Sam, "A good night will be an uneventful night."
Sam sat down. "Seriously, Ed?"
"What?" Ed asked.
"Never mind." Sam said, as he leaned back in his chair.
After a few short minutes, Jules joined us, and Spike had tried to drive Babycakes into the room, but he was told right away by Ed to go park her back in the garage.
Once everyone was assembled in the room, Greg brought up all the information on the screen.
"As I'm sure all of you can guess- we're undercover tonight. More specifically- armed & undercover. Providing the..."
Then the call horn rang out.
"Team one-hot call."
"Marcus-" Greg yelled out to the new night time dispatcher, "Team six and eight are on duty."
"And they're both in Scarborough at the prisoner detention centre dealing with an attempted prison break." Marcus replied.
Greg sighed, "Alright- call up team five to take care of the undercover at the hotel. Feed me on the fly."
"Armed abduction of five year old Jenna Parkerson from Don Valley View Mall. Inside security has been contacted- lockdown in progress. We got uniforms maintaining a hard perimeter. I got Mark Parkerson on the line."
After scrambling into the drivers side of the truck, and Greg getting into the passenger's side to my surprise, I overheard Greg's side of the conversation with Mark Parkerson.
"Ok, Ok sir. Stay where you are, we'll be there in..."
"Five minutes" I replied.
"Five minutes, Mark. Yes. Are you with an officer now? Ok- give him your statement, and I'll talk to you down there."
"Ok-" Greg said, as we got out of the trucks at the mall, just as the command truck was rolling in, "With any luck, our suspect is still inside. Spike- your on intel. Two search units, alpha, Ed and Perra, bravo Sam and Jules."
"We know who we're looking for yet?" Sam snapped, "How we supposed to search without knowing who we're searching for."
"That's why Spike is on intel." Greg explained, "I'll talk to Mr. Parkerson. I'll update in five- just get in there and make our presence known- hopefully our guy is squeamish and he tries to run when he sees us, therefore identifying him for us."
"Sam, Jules, north entrance." Ed commanded, as I followed Ed to the south entrance.
At the doors, two police officers let us inside the first door, and in between the outside and inside doors, a security guard approached us.
"Robert Churchill." he introduced himself, "Big fan of your work."
"And we'll be a fan of yours if you can help us out." I said back, "Where'd it happen?"
"Food court. Right this way."
The guard led us to the area, but then he had to leave.
"Ok- we fan out from here." Ed said, as he scanned the area.
"Less lethal?" I asked.
"Good thinking Perra," Ed complimented, as he broadcasted over the radio, "Bravo- less lethal only. We don't want to start a gun fight or over penetrate into the shops."
After switching to our marked less lethal magazines, Greg came over the radio.
"We got a description of our subject- black male, approximately six-three, short buzz-cut hair, and a dragon tattoo down his right arm, wearing a thin white muscle shirt and black shorts. Spike found his image on the CCTV and sent it to the PDAs. According to our Mr. Parkerson, the man is armed with a .380 ACP."
I took out the PDA and looked at the picture, while I spoke into the radio, "Man knows guns."
"Mr. Parkerson is a legal Canadian firearms enthusiast and collector."
"Nothing wrong with that." Jules replied.
"Progress team one?" Greg asked over the radio.
"Its a big place boss," Ed relayed, "Its going to take some time."
"Same here." Sam said.
"We also got the eight security guards roaming and looking looking for our guy- I'd say the odds are in our favour"
"12 to 1200?" I said to Ed, as we finished clearing the food court, and moved on to the 2nd level, "Yes, the odds are forever in your favour." I said sarcastically.
I looked over the ledge down onto 1st floor. Then I noticed something.
"Bravo- do you have the lower level booths cleared?" I asked.
"Yes we do."
"We got action down there." I nodded to Ed, as we raced down the escalator, "Police, SRU! Stay where you are!"
As I got closer, I saw our suspect, grabbing a small girl by her wrists and running off with her.
"I got him!" I screamed over the radio, as I pushed my legs hard to catch up, "Police- SRU! Stop right now!"
I looked back over my shoulder to confirm that Ed had my flank, and as I turned my head around, I noticed a canister thrown over the shoulder of the man.
"Take cover!"
I took cover behind a jewelry booth, while Ed took up cover behind me.
It was no use though, as the canister opened upon impact on the hard floor and exploded into a noxious fume.
The smoke was thick, and I had enough time to grab the gas mask out of my pack and put it on.
The mask stopped me from breathing in the fumes, but I could feel my exposed skin starting to burn.
"Fall back! Fall back!" I yelled to Ed, as we fell back to cover further back.
When we were behind cover I examined my skin as I put my explosive and poisonous gases training to work.
"Its Lewisite- damn this guy is good."
"Lewisite?" Ed asked.
"It burns exposed skin," I said, and then engaged the radio, "Spike- do a search for persons who have purchased lewisite over the past six months."
"10-4"
"Proceed with caution." Greg said.
"The gas dissipated?" Ed asked.
"Its no good." Greg explained, "He got past the officers in the lower south entrance, and into the parking lot. He took a truck. Spike planted a GPS before he took off though."
"Good." Ed replied, "We'll start pursuit."
"Hold on that Eddie- let's give this guy some breathing room, we don't want anything happening to that little girl."
The team reassembled at the command post.
"Let me look at your arms." Spike asked me.
I rolled up my sleeves as he examined them. "No broken skin- you should be good. Just gotta remember to keep your arms covered to prevent it from drying up and cracking."
"Lewisite, though? Any hits?" I asked.
"None yet. Probably obtained illegally."
"Or made."
"You can make this stuff?" Greg asked.
"You can if you know what you're doing." I replied.
"Officer's get the plates?" Ed asked.
"Yup." Spike said, as he sat down, "And we got a hit- Tyrone Isabel Morgan- also goes by Ty and Tim. He's got a record."
"All chemical criminals do." I stated, as I applied a damp cloth to my skin to keep it moist.
"Small time stuff- no jail time. Petty theft, vandalism, public urination- we got an address."
"Me and Jules will take the house." Greg said, "Sam, Ed, Perra- follow the GPS signal. Spike- you feed us."
I covered up my arms and followed Sam and Ed out to one of the SUVs.
"I'll drive." Sam said, as he started for the driver's side.
"No I will." Ed talked back.
"Ed..." Sam started.
"Hey!" I yelled, "Who cares who drives? Someone's drivin' and it ain't me!"
" 'Ain't' is gonna look bad on the transcript" Sam muttered as he got into the driver's seat.
As I got into the back, I engaged the radio, "Spike, tap us into the GPS signal."
"License Alpha Yankee Foxtrot Delta Four One One," Marcus spoke over the All-Police radio, "All units advise on location. Follow, but do not engage- SRU only. Suspect of Amber alert."
After listening to the APB radio, I reached forward and turned on the public radio in the SRU SUV.
Just like it was meant to be, they were talking about the Amber Alert.
"Jenna Parkerson, five years of age, with blonde hair, blue eyes. Last seen wearing a pink dress. Suspect is Tyrone Morgan, 32 years of age, Afro-Canadian, with thin hair, and a long tattoo down his right arm. Suspect is presumed armed and dangerous. Anybody with information can call..."
Ed turned off the radio. "We don't need to listen to that. If anybody calls in, the information gets relayed to Spike."
"I know. Its just nice to listen to Spike's work."
"I got him." Sam said, as he got behind the suspect's vehicle, "We still stealth?"
"We have to be." Ed replied, "No shooting the tires or spike stripes- not while that girl is still on board."
"We need to get that girl out of the equation." I thought aloud, as something came to my mind, "Spike- the vehicle is a Ford Explorer- can we get ears in?"
"I can do you one better- you can talk to him."
"Spike- you're like a computer ninja." I complimented.
"I'll have it tapped into your headset in five."
Greg and Jules pulled up to the home of Tyrone Isabel Morgan.
Together, they approached the door.
Greg knocked loud on the door, "Police- we just want to talk."
No answer.
Greg kicked in the door, and the duo began clearing the small one bedroom, one bath home.
"All clear."
"You take the kitchen Jules, I start in the living room," Greg started, "What do you see?"
"Nothing yet."
"No photos, no personal items."
"What are you thinking boss?"
"I don't know. Isolated from family, maybe society, wants to have a family. Takes Jenna Parkerson to have a 'family'. "
"Not much of a family." Jules said, as she picked up a camera, "A family is two people who love each other- forgives the little things, and looks only to the big picture."
Greg looked at Jules. "That's deep Jules. Where's this coming from?"
"I don't know. Maybe someday, I'd like to have a family."
Greg looked at her. "You will."
"I got something."
"What is it?"
Jules turned the back of the camera to Greg, as she scrolled through the pictures, "That's our girl. He's been watching her for a while."
"Pre-meditated?"
"Look's like it. But why?"
"If you don't have a significant aspect of your life, you try to have a significant aspect of your life."
Greg nodded, as he engaged the radio, "Team one- Mr. Morgan has been following Jenna Parkerson for a while now. Based on what we've found, he's disconnected from society, and he makes no attempt to be reconnect, so he becomes obsessed with other things- namely Jenna Parkerson. He's tried hard to follow her, and he may believe that she's better off with him."
"Psychopathic?" Ed asked.
"No Ed, just lonely. You guys make contact yet?"
"We're tailing him under stealth. He's all over the place- first we thought he was going to the waterfront, then the highway. Now, his choice of streets has led us downtown. Spike's tapping Perra into the in-car intercom, we'll try to talk him down- to give up the girl, then we'll approach."
"10-4 Eddie- stay safe. Spike- you find any family, friends or co-workers we can talk to?"
"Family no. Friends-no. Co-workers? None of them are interested in talking to us."
"Where did he work?"
"Procter & Gamble, as a chemical engineer."
"Well, there's our chemical reference."
"But he doesn't work there anymore. He was let go after coming back from bereavement leave."
"Why's that?"
"His bereavement was his father murdering his mother, then taking himself. After he went back to work though, he apparently was drinking and smoking marijuana at work."
"Well, there's our catalyst- mother and father dead, is only connection to a normal life within society, then he becomes reclusive. Attempts to be normal by going back to work, while self medicating with booze and drugs. When that gets taken away, he becomes obsessed with other things- like Jenna Parkerson."
"Why Jenna Parkerson?" Jules asked.
"I don't know." Greg said to her, as they started to leave the house and go back to the SUV, "Perra is going to try talking him down and bargain for Jenna Parkerson."
As Jules stepped into the SRU vehicle, she could feel warmth inside her, as her feelings for Perra grew stronger.
"You're in Perra." Spike said to me over the radio.
"Tyrone Morgan- this is the Strategic Response Unit- my name is Kris Perrasmith. We want to help you. If you could just pull over and we can talk about this."
"Go away man."
"I can't do that Tyrone. How about you tell me about Jenna- is she ok?"
"She's fine. We're all fine."
"That's good Tyrone. I can tell that you care about her- so why don't you pull over and let her go back to her family?"
"She has no family- just like me. Her mother is dead, father is a deadbeat. I can give her the life she deserves."
"And what life is that exactly Tyrone? What can you offer, that her father can't?"
"I just know, you know?"
"No, I don't, Mr. Morgan. Why don't you pull over and we can talk about it?"
"No!"
I disengaged the live channel, and went to the team's radio channel.
"He's breaking down boss."
"Keep at it, Perra." Greg reinforced, "Connect with him. Find some middle ground and keep him there."
"Ok."
Back to the live channel.
"So- Jenna- how are you feeling? Probably seems strange to be talking to someone who isn't in the car, right?"
"I've done it before." came the squeaky voice of Jenna Parkerson, "Are you a police?"
"Yes I am, honey. Are you ok?"
"I'm thirsty."
"Tyrone- you hear that? If you want to take care of her, then you have to take care of her."
"Alright- I'll get her something to drink."
I removed the headset from my ear and spoke to Ed, "Up ahead is the Bayview strip mall. He'll probably stop in there."
"How far out are you guys?" Ed asked Greg.
"We can be there in 60 seconds."
"Ok- we're going to roll and save." Ed explained, "Jules, Boss- you're bravo. You'll take the right side of the vehicle. We're on the left as Alpha. Alpha's the distraction, while Jules goes for the extraction of Jenna Parkerson. We clear?"
"We don't we extract?" Sam asked.
"Ok- Sam," Ed snapped, "I've had enough of your questions and smart ass remarks- you can either shut up and do your job, or go back to the station- which is it?"
"I'll find a taxi after we extract."
The extraction went surprisingly easy.
Tyrone pulled the Ford SUV into the parking lot. Just as he came to a stop- Sam pulled up on the driver's side, right up against the vehicle, preventing him from getting out. Continuing the distraction, me and Ed had our handguns ready, in case he brought up his weapon again.
While distracting the suspect, Greg pulled up alongside the other side. Jules quickly got out and silently opened the rear door, and lifted the small girl out, and put her inside the SRU vehicle. Within seconds the operation was complete and the girl was safe with Greg and Jules.
Just when we thought everything was fine, Tyrone realized that Jenna was gone. He flipped out, and grabbed another canister.
"Shit!' I yelled, as I covered myself.
As I looked up, I saw that he played us all, as he quickly sped off.
"He played us!" Ed exclaimed, as he got out of the SUV.
Sam followed suit, but walked off the property, as he grabbed his phone and started to make a call.
Greg and Jules got out, as I came out of the SRU vehicle.
"What's wrong with him?" Greg asked, about Sam.
"He's been giving everybody attitude and lip all night- I sent him back to the station."
Greg looked displeased, but he didn't raise concern with Ed.
"Ok-" Greg said, "We got Jenna, she's safe, but Tyrone is still at large."
"We're still tracking him on the GPS." Spike said, "I'm two minutes out from your location."
"Ok." Greg thought, "We'll reassemble. Jules will take Jenna back to her father. Spike, Perra, Ed- you'll follow Tyrone's GPS signal, and I'll stay in the truck, and gather any further intel. Got it?"
"Got it." me and Ed said in unison.
After Spike arrived, the three of us got into an SUV and continued following the GPS signal.
"He's stopping downtown." Spike said from the back, as he monitored the signal with a tablet computer, "Step on it Ed."
Ed threw on the lights and sirens, as he gave the SUV more gas. It didn't take us long to get back the location of the signal, as it was stopped.
The suspect's truck was in the starting of an alleyway. As we approached, we saw Tyrone get out and run down the alley.
"We got a runner!" I exclaimed, as we bounded out, and ran after him.
It wasn't long before we had him cornered.
"Put the weapon down, Tyrone!" Ed yelled.
I had my MP5 at him, while Ed and Spike had their handguns pointed at him.
Over the radio, Greg warned, "Be safe fellas. Remember the last time we cornered him?"
Remembering, the last time, I felt the long sleeved uniform rubbing up against the chemical burns on my arms.
"You got him Ed?" I asked.
"I do." he whispered to me.
I dropped my weapon.
"Tyrone, I'm the officer you were talking to before. I'm officer Kris Perrasmith. We just want to help you buddy."
"You can't help- nobody can. I'm all alone."
"You are not alone, Tyrone. You wanted to help that girl. You know what that is? That's brave. Not everybody understands what it means to help those who cannot help themselves.
"Thanks, I..."
"I'm not finished Tyrone. You may think you're alone, but you're not. You are a very smart man, and there are other smart people out there who want to help you."
He looked up at me and said, "I don't care."
And that was the last thing, he said, as within seconds, he brought up his gun, and put a bullet in his head from less than a foot away.
I was pissed off at myself.
I could've prevented Tyrone from taking his life. I could've said one thing different, and he might've changed his mind.
When we got back to the station, we pulled into the garage.
I started to help Ed remove the stuff from the SUV but we muttered to me, "Why don't you go cool off before the debriefing?"
I looked at him. "Thanks, yeah, I will."
Not really knowing where I was going, I started to meander into the building. After a few minutes I found myself in front of my locker.
"I just want to go home." I said to myself.
Behind me, I heard a locker opening. I turned to see it was Sam.
"You save that girl?" he asked, as he sat down on the bench and removed his boots.
"Yeah."
"The guy?"
"Suicide."
I opened my locker, and a picture fell down from the door. I picked it up, and realized I still had a picture of my ex-wife.
Why am I keeping this? Why am I acting as if I care?
"That's your ex-wife, eh?" Sam asked.
"Yeah," I replied, as I sat down, "You try to do everything right in life, and you can end up still screwing things up."
"We talking about your failed marriage or the fact that the guy you were talking down killed himself?"
"Thanks for the summary, Sam." I said, as I stood, "I better get going- debriefing..."
"Hey Perra-" Sam started, "I'm sorry if I was hard on you tonight."
"You wanna talk about what happened?"
"Yeah, I think I do."
Oh shit, here we go...' I was dating Jules'...what are we in- high school?
"When I was away," Sam said, "Fishing with my dad- we weren't fishing."
"What were you doing?"
"I was talking about returning to the military."
"You wanna go back?" I asked, "Why?"
"It's the only thing I care about."
After the debriefing, I went home. When me and Jules got home (with a ten minutes difference- we wouldn't want the neighbours to get the wrong idea), Jules went upstairs saying "I'll get something you can put on those burns."
Sam wants to go back to the military. What does that mean? That he's accepted me and Jules together? Does he actually know? Does Ed know? What about Greg?
"Here you go." Jules said, as she came back down, and sat beside me, as he put a quarter sized amount of soothing cream on her hand, and started to rub it into my arm.
Then the door opened.
"You're late Megan- I told you eleven."
Megan walked into the living room, and sat right beside me, and cuddled up close. Something she hasn't done for over ten years. "I'm scared dad."